Multiples and Vaginal Delivery

Posted on August 7, 2017. Filed under: Multiple Birth, Triplets, Twins | Tags: c-section of multiples, c-section of triplets, c-section of twins, natural birth of multiples, Vaginal birth, vaginal birth of multiples, vaginal birth of triplets, vaginal birth of twins |

Using the term “natural birth” for a vaginal delivery implies that having a c-section is “un-natural.”  I prefer using “vaginal birth” instead of “natural birth/delivery.”  If you are expecting multiples and need a c-section, then IMO, both types of delivery are natural.

A vaginal delivery is usually decided at the time of birth by Mom’s health and the position of the lower baby, i.e. if that baby is head down.  If the second baby is also head down, wonderful and the chances of vaginal delivery are pretty well assured.  If the second baby is breech and depending upon the type of breech (i.e. feet down, across the abdomen, etc), the doctor may have the experience to turn or rotate baby to head down for safest delivery.  If the second baby is showing signs of distress (e.g. increased or decreased heart rate), it may be decided to have a c-section for delivery of the second baby.  This doesn’t happen often, but it does happen from time to time.

The more fetuses Mom is carrying, the more likely they will be delivered by c-section.  In 30+ years of working in the field, I have only personally known of one vaginal delivery of triplets.